Sectional boat



A. C. GOETHEL.

SECTIONAL BOAT.

Mar. 20, 1923.

HLE D JAN. I6, [922.

Patented Mar. 2%), 313-9230 htstttZZtZ ALFRED G. GOETHEL, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SECTIONAL BOAT.

To alt whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED C. GonrHnL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee county of Milwaukee, and State oi Wisconsin have invented new and useful Improvements in Sectional Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sectional boats.

It is the object of this invention to provide a novel and improved form of sectional boat of the type in which the bow and stern portions are ren'iovable from the body of the craft and can be stored therein. More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a boat of the type specified and of such construction as to be peculiarly adapted for the use of sheet metal thruout.

It is a further object of this invention to provide simple and eltective securing means whereby the several sections which comprise the boat may be rigidly fastened together. YVhile it is not desired to minimize the importance of the securing means disclosed herein as applied to wooden or canvas covered or other craft, attention is particularly directed to the especial adaptability of the securing means herein to sectional boats of metal. In all sectional boats it is desirable to guard against the displacement of one section relative to another. Any weaving ot' the sections causes rapid wear and in rough waters is apt to disintegrate the boat to the great danger of the occupant. In a metal boat any play in an ordinary securing de vice is particularly dangerous because it is certain to result in the rapid; development oi leaks at the points at which such devices are ordinarily secured by rivets. In the device of the present invention no rivets or other means engaged thru the side of the boat need be used. The securing mechanism herein disclosed'is forn'ied into the adjacent walls or bulk heads of adjoining sections and is consequently integral with the material of which the boat is made. It is of such a nature as to be absolutely rigid when in use, thereby obviating the dangers of a loose connection as well as the discomforts incident thereto, such as the noise that would result from the play of two metallic surfaces upon each other.

A further object of this invention is to provide the sections with an auxiliary looking device to nrevent'the possibility of acci dental disengagement.

' of movement.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of an assembled boat embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation oi the same.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the body or the craft with the end sections stored therein.

Figure 4; is an end elevation of one of the end sectionsl Figure 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Figure 3.

FigureG is a detail in longitudinal vertical section thru adjacent surfaces of two adioining sections.

Like parts are identified by the. same ref erence characters thruout the several views.

The boat shown in the accompanying drawings is made up in three sections 10, 11 and 12. The central section 11 is open and is intended for the use of the operator and passengers of the craft. The end sections and 12 are preferably decked over' and are air-tight or substantially so whereby these sections will serve as floats capable of securing the craft against sinking.

As has been indicated heretofore, it is preferred that this boat be constructed of sheet metal. Consequently, it is desirable to provide means for reenforcing the margin of the central section 11. To this end, the material of the hull is bent inwardly to form a narrow deck portion 14 and thence upwardly into a combing 15 which may be finished with 2. rolled or beaded-edge 16 in the manner shown in Fig. 5. This construc tion results in the formation of a comparatively rigid marginal portion for the section 11. The bottom ofthe section may be reenforced by slat flooring 13 in a well known manner.

For the purpose of securing the several sections together, I provide at each end of the central section 11 a plurality of grooves 17 of the cross section indicated in the accompanying drawings. These grooves are preferably provided with side walls which converge upwardly. Each of the end sections 10 and 12 is provided with correspondingly shaped tenons 18 which may be engaged with the groove 17 by inserting the upper portion of each tenon into the lower portion of its corresponding groove and sliding the bow or stern section upwardly relative to the central section to its limit The arrangement of the tenonsand grooves is such that each tenon will wedge in an interlocked position in its respective groove when the end sections have been moved to a position of registry with the central section in the manner shown in Fig. 2. Since the weight or load carried by the boat will all be disposed within the cen tral section and since the end sections will at all times be buoyant due to the fact that each of them constitutes anairtight cell, the attaching means comprising the wedging, dovetailed connection here shown will at ll times be urged towards a more rigid union, and there will be no tendency while.

the boat is in the water for the sections to become separated. I however, and particularly it it be lifted by the central section 11, the end sect-ions 10 and 12 may tend to become released and to slide downwardly with respect to the section 11 to a point where they will be oisengagedll heloclrinp; device includes the small angled members 19 and 20 which may be bolted or riveted to the decks oi the center SBCl'lOll and the end sections respectively. insuch positions that when the boat is assembled these members will be in registry. Each of them is provided with. anaperture through which maybe passed a bolt 21 provided at its end with a wing nut 22. Obviously, when this belt is in place, it will be impossible for either of the end sections to move relatively to the central section and it will conse quently be impossible for the tenons to become accidentally released from the grooves 17;v One or more of these locking devices may be used. in connection with each joint between the several sections.

It will be noted that the particular attaching means disclosed herein is peculiarly adapted for use in connection with metallic boats. The tenons 18 may readily be formed by bending the metallic material of the end section to the desired shape. It may then be reenforced, if desired, but ordinarily it will be found to be of sufficient strength. In any .the actual interlocking of-the wallsofthe event, there will be no necessity for penetrat-' ing the wall of the section with rivets,bolts or other. securing means. When a correspondmg groove 17 has been formed in the end of the section 11-and when the tenons and grooves have been on gaged by sliding theend section upwardly relative to the central sec tion, it will. be noted that the result will be two sections. The wall of each end section, bent outwardly to form the tenons 18, is

brou nht into rigid. interlocking engavement.

the s des of the grooves 17 which 1conll hen the boat is lifted,

stitute a part of the walls of the central section 11. 1

It is also to be noted thatin the preferred embodiment of this invention, the side walls.

23 of the centralsection 11 are bowed out wardly to such an extentas to provide a craft of an outline peculiarly adapted to pass thru the water with facility. The shape of these side members 23 has the fur ther result that the end sections 10 and 12 'm'ay be accommodated within the central The interlocking dovetailed tenons, not

only connect the end sections to theinterme di ate one by wholly exterior means,- but the I respective sides of eachtenon bind against the wall of the co-operating or tenon receivingtapering dovetailed groove, and consti tute a continuous connection extending sub stantially from top to bottom of the hull. ln the construction shown, there are four of these lines or surfaces in binding contactwith each other,-one on' each side of each iienon. And inasmuch asone tGnOILlS located on each side of the central Vertical plane it will be obvious-that the sections are not only connected attop and bottom, but

the strains upon the walls and upon the connecting members are distributed throughout their area. 'Therefore, with the. walls in abutting contact and thus connected with each other, the sections cannot. be torn apart;-

nor their walls distorted, under the strains imposed by the waves. The interlocking members being wholly exterior, and incapable of exerting concentrated strain upon any given point in the wall it is also as vious that there will beeven less tendency to leakage than "in an ordinary boat, for the double cross walls provide the hull with' very effective reinforcementi' I-claim: 1. A boat-comprising a plurality of watertight sect-ions, abut-ting walls of contiguous sections being formed for continuous interlocking engagement substantially throughout their vertical extent.

' 2. Aboatcomprising a plurality of sections, and cooperative interlocking means integral with the sections 'adaptedflfor vertical sliding movement, one within the other,

along separated lines of interlocking strain distributing surface contacts.

3. A boat comprising a plurality sections, and interacting connecting means carried by abutting end walls of adjacent sect'ions whereby an interlocking engagggement between such walls at vert cally 1 remote points may be efllected by sliding an outer section upwardly with reference to an inner section, said Walls being imperforate and said means being wholly exterior to said sections.

4. In a boat having a plurality of sections, an open central section, suitable bow and stern sections each comprising a sealed float, dovetailed interlocking members on the abutting ends of the sections each tapering in one direction and co-operating means for preventing releasing movement in the opposite direction.

5. In a boat, a central section, end sections detachable therefrom, tenons carried by certain of said sections and interlocking members carried by others of said sections whereby grooves are formed to receive the tenons, said grooves and tenons having converging side walls adapted to limit movement of contiguous sections upon each other in one direction.

6. In a boat having a plurality of independently buoyant sections, a central section provided with grooves upon its end faces, and end sections provided with tenons slidably engageable in said grooves.

7. In a boat having a plurality of independently buoyant sections, a central section provided with grooves upon its end faces, and end sections provided with tenons slidably engageable in saidgrooves, said tenons and grooves being tapered upwardly.

8. In a boat having a plurality of inde- 'ment.

9. In a boat, a plurality of independently buoyant sections having imperforate walls provided with exterior co-operating interlocking members formed integrally with the walls of the sections and adapted to rigidly bind the sections together when moved upon each other in a direction substantially parallel to said walls.

10. A boat including a plurality of independently buoyant middle and end sections having imperforate walls, and interlocking members on the exterior surfaces of the section walls adapted to rigidly bind the sections together in position for use with the abutting end walls of the sections in contacting relation to each other throughout their area.

11. A boat formed in detachable sections having abutting bulk heads formed for binding interlocking engagement along continuous vertical lines on each side of the central plane of the hull, and manually disengage- ALFRED C. GOETHEL. 

